Don’t Worry. Be Happy.

by Larry Hehn on February 11, 2011

Last Sunday I joined dozens of other men for a Super Bowl party at a local car dealership. John Attrell and his team at Attrell Toyota cleared their showroom of cars and set up a monster projector TV so a bunch of us could sit together and watch the big game.

There were hot dogs and snacks, guest speaker Chuck Ealey (a former all-American quarterback and CFL Grey Cup champion), and even an informal skills competition where each guy had a chance to throw a football through a tire from about 10 yards away.

I have enjoyed modest success in a couple of sports, but football is not one of them. In fact, I’m downright lousy at football. But I figured I’d give the target practice a try.

With nothing to lose and a very relaxed attitude, I took hold of the pigskin, pumped, and casually sent my first throw straight through the target – swoosh! I raised my arms in victory. The crowd went wild.

Well ok, a couple of my friends cheered.

My best friend Peter used his iPhone to capture the above photo of my “victim” in the background, and me wearing the Corolla hat I just won. Thanks for the memento, Peter.

Funny how effortless it was, and how little thought I gave to it as I let the ball fly. But imagine if that same throw was for a prize of…say…$50,000.

I doubt I would have made that same throw.

I would have tensed up. My mind would have been racing. I would have noticed and been disturbed by the noises of the crowd around me. I would have already spent the money in my head. I would have calculated how much I would lose if I missed the throw.

I would have started to worry.

Interesting how much worry can cripple you, isn’t it?

I guess that’s why Jesus tells us not to worry in Matthew 6:25-34.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

There are lots of things that we could worry about, if we allow ourselves. Sometimes avoiding worry is easier said than done. But it’s true that worrying does not do us any good. In fact, it throws us right off target.

I get the temptation to worry about literally everything. However, I’ve definitely been growing in this area and God immediately reminds me of who I am and where He is. It’s a constant thing I have to keep at the forefront of my mind. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 41:10:

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”Tony Alicea recently posted..Friday Quick Thoughts

Tony, love that verse. Just used it in a post the other day. Love, love it.

Larry, lately I’ve tend to worry about provision. Now, I know in my head that the Lord will provide for us (my family), but fear creeps from time to time and causes me to doubt that things aren’t going to turn out like I expect them to turn out. During these times is when I need to hold on to verses like Isaiah 41:10 ever so tightly.Dustin recently posted..A Letter To A Young Dustin Valencia

Worry sure has robbed me of God’s blessing. Interestingly, it is a very different verse and example that brings me comfort. One that is not often referred to, but that speaks to me very clearly. It is when Ishmael, the boy and his mother were sent away and the boy was close to dying. This is what brings me comfort: “Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink”

God provided when there was no provision. Surely he has promised the same to us.

Hi Larry! The image of your effortless throw really reminded me of how often things turn out well when we relax and go with the flow rather than tightening up with fear and worry. Thanks for this post, Larry–you helped to jog me into a better place. :o)

Kinda like TOny above, I worry about just about everything. I worried that Larry wouldn’t appreciate having that picture on Facebook, I worry that I forgot to do something, I worry that I did something I shouldn’t have.

I used to worry that nobody loved me, but I don’t anymore. I know Jesus loves me, and even if nobody ever did, that’s enough for me.

I always tend to worry if I am being a good enough husband or father. I worry I don’t demonstrate Jesus to my kids in my actions. As much as I want each of them to pursue him on their own I worry they won’t. I worry something will happen to one of my kids and I won’t be able to protect them. I guess part of being a parent is that you worry. I know that God is in charge and takes care of all of it, but somehow I have am going to make a difference.
Great post and a great verse to help reminder.